The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Used Hybrid Car

Hybrid cars are here to stay. Hybrid vehicles like the Prius offer fantastic value, incredible fuel economy, and a “green” carbon footprint that can be very attractive to some car buyers. And because hybrid vehicles are so popular, it’s becoming more and more common to see hybrid options at many used-car dealerships.

So this has left many used car buyers wondering – is it a good idea to invest in a used hybrid car?

Well, there’s no “right” answer. Whether a hybrid car is a good purchase depends on many factors such as your budget, desired fuel efficiency, and personal preferences. But to help you make your decision, we’ve put together a list of the pros and cons of purchasing a used hybrid. Take a look below!

The Pros Of Buying A Used Hybrid Car

There are certainly quite a few great reasons to look into buying a used hybrid car. Here are a few of them.

Great fuel economy – The fuel economy of hybrids is incredible. Just about every hybrid manufactured after 2006 will have at least a 30 mpg combined rating, and newer models can easily surpass 50 mpg. If you want to save money on fuel, a hybrid is definitely a great choice.

Lower emissions – If you’re concerned about the environment, hybrids offer a way to mitigate harmful gas emissions like CO2 and carbon monoxide. The carbon footprint of a hybrid is much lower than that of a gas-powered car, making hybrids a great choice for anyone who is trying to have a lower impact on our environment.

Great value compared to a new hybrid – Depreciation on new hybrids is pretty staggering. Almost all new cars lose about 20% of their value as soon as they’re driven off the lot, and brand-new hybrid cars can lose even more value.

However, this is a good thing if you’re interested in a used car! You don’t have to take that initial depreciation hit, so you’ll be able to get a much better deal on a used hybrid than you would be able to get on a new vehicle.

Less wear on brake systems/transmission – Due to the electric powertrains used in most hybrids, the brake pads and transmission are in much better shape. Because the electric motor does a lot of the work in a hybrid, the transmission will be better preserved, and magnet-based regenerative braking helps preserve brake pads, rotors, and other braking systems.

Battery packs have a comprehensive warranty – Battery pack failure is often a concern for hybrid vehicle owners, but most manufacturers include a 10-15 year battery pack warranty with all of their hybrid vehicles. If you’re looking at a 5-year-old hybrid, you’ll be covered for quite a while. However, you may want to shy away from hybrids that are over 10 years old – if the battery pack does fail, you might not be covered.

The Cons Of Buying A Used Hybrid Car

There are, of course, drawbacks to buying a used hybrid. Let’s go over these now, so that you have all the information you need to make your decision.

Gas cars are much cheaper – and some offer comparable gas mileage – Hybrid cars are almost always more expensive than comparable gas-powered vehicles. If you’re interested in a used hybrid, there’s a chance you could find a newer gas-powered car that has similar mileage, and is much cheaper.

For example: A 2009 Honda Civic hybrid gets about 40mpg combined, and would cost you around $13,000 CAD, while a 2013 Honda Civic that’s gas-powered can get around 29 mpg city and 41 mpg highway for about the same price – and with far fewer miles on its components.

Battery replacements are extremely expensive – If you buy a hybrid and the battery fails out of warranty, you could be totally sunk. A battery replacement can easily cost upwards of $3000-$5000. To avoid this, you can make sure that you buy a vehicle with a battery that’s still under warranty – but this can still be a major concern.

Hybrid cars aren’t as “responsive” as gas cars – Some people just don’t like driving hybrids. They’re not as responsive to input on the gas pedal, and some people have difficulty getting used to regenerative braking and electric-vehicle mode. `

This is a matter of taste – but make sure that you drive a hybrid before deciding to purchase a used vehicle, just so you can understand what it feels like.

Repairing a hybrid can be very expensive – Hybrids are difficult to service, and most third-party mechanics won’t be able to do any significant repairs to a hybrid vehicle.That means you’ll have to get major repairs done at a dealership, which can be expensive.

Hybrid components are also more rare and expensive than components for gas-powered cars. Combine that with the high cost of dealership labor, and you can be paying some serious cash to repair your hybrid if something does go wrong.

Consider Both The Pros And Cons Of Used Hybrid Vehicles – And Make The Right Choice For Your Needs!

As we said above, there’s no “right” answer to the issue of buying a used hybrid. If you’re interested in a used hybrid vehicle, it can be a fantastic choice – but you should be aware of the drawbacks of purchasing a used hybrid.

Are you interested in buying a used car – hybrid or otherwise – in Winnipeg, or anywhere else in Canada? If you are, visit Ride Time now! We have a huge variety of cars, and you’re sure to find an incredible vehicle that’s perfect for you.

Best of all, we don’t just serve the Winnipeg area. We can ship our stock of used cars anywhere in Canada! So take a look at our inventory of cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs now!. We know you’ll love what you see!

Follow Us!

Visit Us

About Ride Time

Ride Time is the used car dealer of choice for people with less-than-perfect credit. We provide innovative credit solutions and bad credit car loans Winnipeg drivers rely on. You can expect quality vehicles and outstanding customer service from every person in our organization. At Ride Time, we’re committed to creating a positive experience for customers, even under the toughest circumstances.